Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we have a focus on promoting the distinct advantages that Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. By coordinating community-based initiatives and working to maintain a commercially attractive environment, we foster new business creation, help ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and work to attract growing businesses to the area.
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Last updated on Apr 2nd, 2026
Recent Activity
Wyoming Sky-Tech Invitational attendance and community engagement
The Wyoming Sky-Tech Invitational at the Wyoming Fairgrounds was a student led tech showcase highlighting drone coding and virtual reality career exploration. Hosted by Holy Rosary Catholic School and noted by SLEP Economic Development Officer Cari Meloche, the event included leadership from Robert Walicki and attendance by Mayor Gary Atkinson and Director of Education Lisa Demers for community engagement and demonstrations.
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Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan Applications Open
Sarnia Lambton businesses can apply to join the Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan, with an application deadline of April 21, 2026 at 23:59 PT. The mission targets sectors including defence and security, AI and ICT, clean technologies, agri food and forestry, see the Trade Commissioner Service page for application details and eligibility.
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Find the Right Fit: Hiring in Today’s Market
A free one hour webinar from the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership with the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board and RBC will cover hiring trends and practical strategies on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The session is aimed at local employers and HR professionals seeking actionable approaches for finding the right talent; register at the provided short link to save your spot.
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Sarnia-Lambton Canada–U.S. trade corridor trend
Regional data show the Blue Water Bridge handled approximately 2.1 million commercial truck crossings in 2025, higher than the Ambassador Bridge at 1.9 million, and Q1 2026 counts keep that lead with 531,732 crossings versus Windsor at 496,796. Local officials and CBC News describe Sarnia-Lambton as a key Canada U.S. trade gateway due to direct highway access and strong connections to major U.S. markets.
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Appointment of Economic Development Officer
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership announced on 2026-04-07 that Domenic Mazzuca is joining as their new Economic Development Officer. He will work on investment attraction and site selection across Advanced Manufacturing, Food Processing, and Value Added Agriculture, collaborating with local industrial site owners to help position properties and support new investment and job creation.
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Volunteer Director - Board of Directors
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is seeking one volunteer Director for a three year term, open to residents or business owners in Lambton County. Applications are due April 10, 2026; apply online via the provided link and see the media release for full details.
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Business Coffee Chat
Join the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership for a relaxed Business Coffee Chat at Cosmo's Cafe, 582 Broadway St, Wyoming on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This informal morning meetup is for local business owners to connect, share projects, and learn about supports for growth and hiring. Come ready to meet neighbors in the business community and exchange ideas.
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Office holiday closure notice
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership office will be closed on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6 for Good Friday and Easter Monday, and will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, April 7. This notice was posted by the organization on April 2, 2026.
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Your Small Business Tech Stack: Needs and Wants
Join a free, practical webinar on April 15 with Sara Norton of REPLY-ALL to learn how to build a lean tech stack that grows with your small business. The 90 minute session will focus on actionable priorities across operations, marketing, and customer management, register on the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership events page.
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April newsletter now available
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership published its April newsletter on 2026-04-01 with briefs on investment activity, business supports, workforce development, and funding opportunities across the Sarnia Lambton region. Read the full issue and follow links to programs and opportunities at https://sarnialambton.on.ca/newsletters.
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Southwest Apprenticeship Network Gala
The Southwest Apprenticeship Network Gala, reported by the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership on 2026-03-30, celebrated employer and partner work to promote apprenticeship pathways and honored winners like TIB Electric and Blenheim Chevrolet Buick GMC. Grade 11 student Grace Wallace described how co op placements at Milburn Electric and Zavitz Electrical shaped her interests, underscoring the gala's focus on hands on workplace experience and regional workforce development.
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REDI pilot program impact update
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership reports that the REDI pilot program, which ran January to December 2025, helped employers fill hard to recruit roles in health care support, early childhood education, and home support services. The update says many nominations retained employees already in the region, supporting essential services and workforce stability; read the media release on the SLEP website for full details.
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Child Care and Early Years Career Fair
The Child Care and Early Years Career Fair runs Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 in Sarnia. Job seekers can meet local employers hiring for ECE, assistants, cooks, support staff, and supervisors; bring a resume and visit lambtonchildcare.ca or call 519-344-2062 ext. 2019 for more information.
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Your Small Business Tech Stack: Needs and Wants
Two practical lunchtime sessions from the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership with Sara Norton of REPLY-ALL teach small business owners how to build a lean tech stack and use data to make smarter decisions. The sessions run April 15 and April 22 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, and registration links are provided in the announcement.
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Know Your Business Better: Data Analytics for Small Business Owners
Sara Norton of REPLY-ALL leads a practical data analytics session for small business owners on April 22 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The workshop covers which metrics matter, where to find them, and how to use your data with confidence, and it is part of a two session series hosted by the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership.
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Business Coffee Chat
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is hosting a Business Coffee Chat at Cosmos Cafe in Wyoming on Wednesday, April 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This informal meetup helps local business owners share what they are working on and learn about supports from the regional partnership. Bring a colleague and consider a quick update to introduce your current priorities.
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Market Research and Analysis webinar
A free 90 minute webinar from the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership on April 9, 2026 with Jennifer Whitten will teach small business owners practical market research skills including competitive analysis, SWOT analysis, and ways to refine your unique value. The online session runs from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM and requires registration via the event page.
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Participation in industry conferences (Mar–Apr 2026)
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership will attend five major conferences from mid March through late April, including ABLC 2026 and Hannover Messe, to promote regional strengths in advanced manufacturing, energy, hydrogen, and sustainable chemistry. Organizations are invited to connect via the team's page to arrange meetings, introductions, or partnership conversations at these events.
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CRA tax help webinar for newly self-employed
CRA liaison officers are hosting an online webinar for newly self employed people and small businesses on March 25 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, covering common tax errors, financial benchmarks, CRA services, and bookkeeping best practices. Register at https://simpli.events/e/CRA-T1-Mar25 to reserve a spot and get direct answers from CRA staff about your business tax questions.
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B2B Resource Night 2026
B2B Resource Night 2026 in Sarnia-Lambton on March 31 offers a practical AI panel from 2 to 3 PM and a trade show from 3 to 6 PM with more than 40 local service providers. Registration is free at https://b2bresource.ca, panel attendees receive over $1,000 in AI tools, and exhibitors will give away more than $10,000 in business focused prizes.
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Business Bus Tour
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership hosted a Business Bus Tour connecting Lambton College business students with LamSar Inc., Toolrite Engineering Ltd., and The Insignia Hotel to showcase employer operations and career pathways. The visit is designed to help emerging talent learn about industry needs and build professional connections within Sarnia-Lambton.
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Small Business Grant Program Announcement
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is accepting online applications for the Small Business Grant Program through April 10, 2026, offering up to $4,000 to ten local businesses to strengthen operations or support growth. If your small business is in Sarnia Lambton, review eligibility and apply at the program website before the April 10 deadline.
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Employee Appreciation Day recognition and team roles
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership recognizes its staff for Employee Appreciation Day on 2026-03-06, spotlighting roles in investment attraction, workforce development, business support, and marketing and operations. Visit the team page to meet the people helping position Sarnia-Lambton as a strong place to live, work, and invest.
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Volunteer Director position
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is recruiting one Volunteer Director for a three year term, open to applicants who reside in or own a business in Lambton County. Applications are being accepted through April 10, 2026; see the media release at https://ow.ly/UXsx50Ykeri for eligibility and application instructions.
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Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) intake — round 7
Ontario is accepting applications for O AMP round 7, offering up to $150,000 or 50 percent of eligible project costs to help small and medium sized automotive parts suppliers modernize. The program encourages AI related proposals and has an application deadline of April 16, 2026; contact (519) 332 1820 or email contact@sarnialambton.on.ca for application help.
